CHAPTER 11

Field Marshal Chan took a sick leave for a day and watched his daughter Keira with her friends who were doing their regular training.

He massaged his temples, then he let out a long, deep sigh.

Mrs. Chan arrived with black tea and cinnamon.

"So, what is your plan now? I think it is also not good if you turn their offer down. The Lius will get offended if you do that. Just tell everything to Keira and let her handle it." Mrs. Chan said calmly and sat beside her husband.

"But that old lady is really scary, sweetheart. Oh, my head is really aching right now…" Field Marshal Chan complained.

Old Madam Liu was someone who you shouldn't offend because she was a tyrant and was often called Mrs. Hitler by others in the high society.

It's not that he was scared of her but he actually greatly respected her. She did something big for his family as she entrusted all their malls to his construction company. Both families had a good business relationship.

Then, he looked at Keira who was smiling widely with her friends. She was more lively, being inspired by having her first love.

"She would go wild if I tell her this. Old Madam Liu invited us to the Lius ancestral house this weekend to formally introduce the kids to each other." Field Marshal Chan said.

Mrs. Chan laughed and said, "Stop worrying… Trust me, Keira will handle everything well."

"You mean your daughter will surely mess up everything, right?" Field Marshal Chan uttered with a grin.

"Yes… she will… But I'm curious, you said that General Jeru is also good like General Zach, so if you choose between the two, who will it be?" Mrs. Chan asked and looked at her husband closely.

"Hmm… I will choose whoever Keira chooses of course." Field Marshal Chan said laughing.

He would absolutely support his daughter until the end. They would support her no matter the consequences. There was nothing important to them but Keira and her happiness.

_____

*Few days later*

"Is that for me?" Keira asked excitedly when she saw one of their house helpers brought letters from the mailbox.

It was said that they would receive an official letter with the test results two days in advance before the results would be posted online.

She hurriedly got the letters and scanned each to see if one was addressed to her and her eyes widened.

"Yey! The result is out!" She screamed running to the kitchen to look for her mom.

"Mom! The result is here!" Keira blurted out.

Mrs. Chan's eyebrows arched as she asked, "Why don't you open it, instead of screaming all over the place?"

Keira pursed her lips and slowly handed the letter to her mom and said, "I'm nervous. Please, look at it first, Mom, and tell me what it says."

Mrs. Chan twisted her mouth and grabbed the letter. She opened and read it with a creased forehead. Then, she looked at Keira and said, "Dear, how about you go and study abroad? You said before that you would love to travel the world, right? Why not do that? Or pursue journalism…"

Keira looked sullen and asked, "What, Mom? Did I fail? But I'm confident about that exam, so don't tell me I failed and that's why you are like that?"

Mrs. Chan wanted to burst out in laughter as she stared at her daughter's conflicted look.

She sighed and continued, "You still have a lot of choices on your plate. After you graduate from college, you can return to pursue Zach if you think you still like him or if he is still single."

"Mommm!!!" Keira fizzled out impatiently and snatched the letter from her mom.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh…" she screamed as the word 'CONGRATULATIONS' first thing drew her eyes.

"I have passed, Mom! I did it! 95%!!!" She screamed as she hugged her mom tightly.

"Urghhh… Dear, release me, you are choking me." Mrs. Chan complained to Keira who was jumping and hugging her at the same time.

"Mom, I'm gonna call the girls!" She said and kissed Mrs. Chan on the cheek before she ran to the living room where she had left her mobile phone.

Keira quickly called everyone and informed them about the good news. Drey's congratulatory letter had also arrived.

An hour later, Keira received a call from Lana first, followed by May's call afterward.

"Alright guys, let's go out tonight and party all night long!!!" Keira suggested excitedly during their video call.

"I will pick you up guys at 8:00 PM. We will celebrate and get drunk!" She added in her highest spirit.

Then, she called one of her bodyguards at mobile phone and asked, "Did you look into it? Really? Okay, you did great John. We will go there tonight at 8:00 PM. Thanks."

Her eyes were twinkling as her heart started to thump loudly. She would party all night long.

By then, Field Marshal Chan arrived home with a bouquet of flowers. Keira quickly ran towards him at the door and smiled widely.

"See how great your daughter is, Dad? I scored 95! 5 more points and I would have been perfect!" She said proudly, which made Field Marshal Chan laugh as he shook his head.

"You are my blood, dear, so it's a given for you to be wise and intelligent like your dad. I bought these flowers for you. Congratulations, daughter." Keira's father said smiling and handed a bouquet of flowers to Keira.

"Oh, they are beautiful and lovely, Dad." She said and quickly looked inside the arranged flowers to look for something more. Usually, there's a box inside of the bouquet of flowers her dad was giving her, containing her favorite collections of jewelry with best stones.

Field Marshal Chan laughed, seeing his daughter's crumpled face. "You did not exactly pass the Academy exams yet, dear. Remember? There are still physical tests and I heard the final round will be composed of hard challenges, so my congratulatory gift will follow once you pass the final round."

Keira pouted her lips, looked at her father and said, "I want a lot of stones, Dad, once I get admitted to the Military Academy. I'm gonna put these beautiful flowers inside my room, Dad. Thanks…"

She walked towards her room but then paused, turned to look at her dad and said, "By the way, Dad, we will go out tonight to celebrate so I will be home late."

Field Marshal Chan nodded. Then a chuckle escaped him because he knew Keira would just stalk Zach, once more, as it was reported to him by John.

"Tsk, my daughter is very cunning…" he murmured. He really couldn't tell if Zach was lucky or unlucky for becoming Keira's prey. She was now making her moves. He suddenly wondered what would his daughter do once he told her about the matter with the Lius.

"I should tell her about it soon," he muttered as he anticipated how Keira would face the famous Madam Hitler.

'It's like Old Madam Hitler meeting Young Miss Hitler…' he thought with a terrified look.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Torin pressed the doorbell of Zach's unit. He started getting worried because Zach was also not answering his calls.

After he pressed the doorbell for the third time he looked at the camera with crumpled face and said, "Bro! Let me in! The heck, why are you not answering your phone? If you don't open this in a minute, I'm gonna call security for force opening..."

That instant the door made a click sound, indicating it was already opened. Torin quickly went inside and found Zach sitting in the living room, watching the television.

"What's your problem, Torin, bugging me at this time of the day!" Zach hissed as he changed the channels on the TV with his serene expression.

'Maybe, he has already saw the news,' Torin thought with hesitation as he tried to read Zach's movements and facial expressions.

Then, he saw Zach's mobile phone beside him and his brow arched and said, "Geez, you were intentionally not picking up my calls?"

Zach let out a long, deep sigh and said, "Yes because I know you will just start on blabbing out nonsense. Let me just rest, will you?"

Torin walked towards Zach and sat beside him.

So, Zach already knew that she would soon come back. It's been three years if his count was correct since that woman left, but Zach seemed to be affected just by that simple news because he looked out of himself.

"Damn, bro… What's with this ambiance. Cheer up, will you! Geez… why don't you come with me and Cielo? I've received four VIP cards to the most expensive bar and they just opened a branch around our area. I can bring three people, free of charge, drink all we can, so that's free spot is for you and Cielo. I wonder who's the other one I should bring?" Torin said as he searched the address book on his mobile phone.

"I will stay at home, Torin. I don't feel like going out." Zach replied as he kept on changing the channels on the television.

Torin made a wash up his face gesture with his palm. made a wash up his face gesture with his palm.

"And you keep saying you already moved on, bro? I don't think so because of the look on your face now! Imagine how worse you can be once you meet her somehow?" Torin deliberately said with an arched brow.

"Don't get too exaggerated, Torin. I really want to rest, besides, you know going to a bar and having a night out is not my thing. If you want, grab a drink at my mini bar instead. I'll let you open anything you want there." Zach answered expressionlessly.

Torin stood up and shook his head as he looked at Zach.

"Alright, I will leave this here in case you change your mind. I've heard that bar is very cool that's why it's opening branches everywhere. Make sure you bring this card because they don't allow just anyone to enter. That's a VIP card you know." Torin proudly uttered.

Zach inhaled and exhaled as he looked at the card Torin left on his table.

'Maybe, Torin is right. I should grab a drink and go out to have a social life somehow.' He mused although he was still hesitant since it's not like him.

But seeing her and knowing she would be back, gave him that stabbing and hurtful feeling. It's not because he still loved her because that was absolutely impossible. But the resentment in his heart remained. He had given his all for her, his whole heart that's why he was so devastated on how everything turned out to be.

He stared at the card for a long while… balancing out what Torin said.

...….

John's jaw dropped as he looked at their Miss who was walking towards them.

"Lad, close your mouth or you'll get another flying kick from her soon." Jim murmured.

"Geez, she shouldn't wear too revealing clothes if she doesn't want getting stared at by others. Look at her, Senior… Even a statue will drool on that look!" John complained but quickly pursed his lips and opened the door of the van for her.

Keira stopped at his side and whispered, "Good job, John. I'll give you an extra bonus once I see Zach there. But I will deduct 30% because I'm sure you reported everything to my dad."

John scratched his head and was left with a conflicted expression. Young Miss was so sharp on things, like what Field Marshall Chan had oriented to him and same with Senior Jim but what could he do? Field Marshall Chan instructed them both to report everything.

Jim sighed, he was scared of making Miss Keira getting pissed off because she's really terrifying when she was irritated. Her way to get back was so awful, not that you would get hurt from her or anything worse but her ways of torturing people that had pissed her off were somehow unique.

Miss Keira tapped his shoulder, so he turned and looked at her. She winked at him and said, "That's okay, John. I did not instruct you to keep it a secret, so you're good. Now, move your ass and go back to your seat."